CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a one-piece latch attached to a first object that
engages with a catch attached to a second object to latch the first object to the
second object. (As used herein, references to the "present invention" or "invention"
relate to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to every embodiment encompassed
by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention pertains to a one-piece
latch attached to a first object that engages with a catch attached to a second object
to latch the first object to the second object where the latch has a cam portion against
which the second object pushes against as it moves toward the first object, and after
clearing the cam portion a hook portion of the latch automatically engages with the
catch to latch the first object with the second object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that
may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion
is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present
invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion
are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
[0004] In a multitude of instances where a first object and a second object removably attach
to each other, there is a need to securely hold the first object and second object
together in certain positions. For instance, when a step ladder is moved into an open
position, it is desired to latch in place a front portion or platform to a rear portion
of the ladder, so the ladder can be maintained in an open or use position and a user's
hand safely climb the stepladder without concern that the stepladder will collapse.
Simple latches are manually moved by a user into place when the first object and second
object are in a desired position. More complex latches have some type of biasing force,
such as a spring, incorporated into them so that the latch automatically latches the
first object and second object together without the user having to manually move the
latch whatsoever. The more complex latches with more components and weight because
of the presence of more components, an increase the likelihood of failure in the sense
that there are more components to fail. For certain applications, it would be desirable
to have a latch which automatically biases to latch a first object and a second object
when they are brought together.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention pertains to a latch for latching a first object with a second
object. The latch comprises a catch attached to the first object. The latch comprises
a hook portion having a hook which engages with the catch attached to the first object
that the latch holds in place. The latch comprises a base portion that is fixed to
a rigid surface of the second object. The ladder comprises a pinch flex portion connected
to the base portion and the hook portion. When the pinch flex portion is compressed
or pinch flexed downward to the base portion, the hook portion moves off of the first
object, thus releasing the first object to move away from the second object. When
the first object is to be held or latched to the second object, the first object is
moved against a cam portion of the hook portion, pushing the hook portion back away
from the first object until the first object clears the hook of the hook portion,
whereupon the hook portion no longer being restrained by the first object, under a
force bias created in the pinch flex portion by the pinch flex portion being compressed,
automatically moves back and catches or latches the first object to the second object
without any spring or other component to create the force bias. The hook portion and
base portion and pinch flex portion all together being one piece.
[0006] The present invention pertains to a method for latching a first object with a second
object. The method comprises the steps of compressing a pinch flex portion of a latch
downward toward a base portion of the latch that is fixed to a rigid surface of the
second object causing a hook portion of the latch to move off of a catch attached
to the first object, thus releasing the first object to move away from the second
object. The pinch flex portion connected to the base portion and the hook portion.
There is the step of moving the first object away from the second object. There is
the step of moving the first object against a cam portion of the hook portion, which
pushes the hook portion back away from the first object until the first object clears
the hook of the hook portion, whereupon the hook portion no longer being restrained
by the first object, under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion by the pinch
flex portion being compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches the
first object to the second object without any spring or other component to create
the force bias. The hook portion and base portion and pinch flex portion all together
being one piece.
[0007] The present invention pertains to a ladder. The ladder comprises a front rail of
a front section. The ladder comprises a rear rail of a rear section. The ladder comprises
a step attached to the front rail. The ladder comprises a latch attached to the rear
section and positioned on the rear section so when the ladder is in a folded position,
the latch latches with the step. The latch comprises a hook portion having a hook
which engages with the step attached to the front rail that the latch holds in place.
The latch comprises a base portion that is fixed to a rigid surface of the rear rail.
The latch comprises a pinch flex portion connected to the base portion and the hook
portion. When the pinch flex portion is compressed or pinch flexed downward to the
base portion, the hook portion moves off of the step attached to the front rail, thus
releasing the front rail to move away from the rear rail. When the front section is
to be held or latched to the rear section, the step of the front section is moved
against a cam portion of the hook portion, pushing the hook portion back away from
the step of the front rail until the front rail clears the hook of the hook portion,
whereupon the hook portion no longer being restrained by the step of the front section,
under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion by the pinch flex portion being
compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches the front section to the
rear section without any spring or other component to create the force bias. The latch
having the hook portion and base portion and pinch flex portion all together being
one piece.
[0008] The present invention pertains to a method for latching a front section of a ladder
with a rear section of the ladder. The method comprises the steps of compressing a
pinch flex portion of a latch downward toward a base portion of the latch that is
fixed to a rigid surface of the rear section causing a hook portion of the latch to
move off of a step attached to a front rail of the front section, thus releasing the
front section to move away from the rear section. The pinch flex portion is connected
to the base portion and the hook portion. There is the step of moving the front section
away from the rear section. There is the step of moving the step of the front section,
against a cam portion of the hook portion, which pushes the hook portion back away
from the step of the front section until the step of the front section clears the
hook of the hook portion, whereupon the hook portion no longer being restrained by
the step of the front section, under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion
by the pinch flex portion being compressed by the step, automatically moves back and
catches or latches the step and thus the front section to the rear section without
any spring or other component to create the force bias. The latch having the hook
portion and base portion and pinch flex portion all together being one piece.
[0009] The present invention pertains to a ladder. The ladder comprises a front section
having a front right rail and a front left rail. The ladder comprises a rear section
having a rear right rail and a rear left rail. The ladder comprises a step attached
to the front right rail and front left rail. The ladder comprises a cross bar attached
to the rear right rail and the rear left rail. The ladder comprises a latch attached
to the cross bar and positioned on the cross bar so when the ladder is in a folded
position where the front section is alongside and in parallel with the rear section,
the latch latches with the step. The latch comprises a hook portion having a hook
which engages with the step attached to the front right rail and front left rail that
the latch holds in place. The latch comprises a base portion that is fixed to a rigid
surface of the cross bar. The latch comprises a pinch flex portion connected to the
base portion and the hook portion. When the pinch flex portion is compressed or pinch
flexed downward to the base portion, the hook portion moves off of the step, thus
releasing the front section to move away from the rear section, When the front section
is to be held or latched to the rear section, the step attached to the front section
is moved against a cam portion of the hook portion, pushing the hook portion back
away from the step until the front section clears the hook of the hook portion, whereupon
the hook portion no longer being restrained by the step. Under a force bias created
in the pinch flex portion by the pinch flex portion being compressed, automatically
moves back and catches or latches the step and thus the front section to the rear
section without any spring or other component to create the force bias. The latch
is one piece.
[0010] The present invention pertains to a method for using a step ladder. The method comprises
the steps of moving a pinch flex latch attached to a cross bar of a rear section of
the stepladder so a cam surface of a cam portion of the pinch flex latch contacts
a front edge of a striker attached to a step of a front section of the stepladder,
which moves the cam portion aside so the cam portion clears the front edge of the
striker and the hook of the pinch flex latch latches with the striker so the front
section and rear section are latched together. There is the step of pressing on a
pinch flex portion of the pinch flex latch to move the hook so the hook clears the
striker. There is the step of moving the front and rear sections apart after the hook
clears the striker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0011] In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred
methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:
Figure 1 is a representation of the latch of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the latch.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the latch attached to a rear rail of a ladder.
Figure 4 shows a side view of a ladder of the present invention in a folded position
leaning against a wall.
Figure 4A is an exploded view of the latch engaged with the step of the ladder of
figure 4.
Figure 5 shows a side view of the ladder in the open position.
Figure 5A is an exploded view of a step of the ladder of figure 5.
Figure 5B is an exploded view of the latch attached to the ladder of figure 5.
Figure 6 shows a front view of the latch.
Figure 7 shows a side view of the latch.
Figure 8 shows an overhead view of the latch.
Figure 9 shows a rear view of the latch.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a ladder with a striker to receive the pinch latch.
Figure 11 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of the pinch latch engaged with the striker.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the pinch latch engaged with the striker.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the striker.
Figure 14 is a front perspective view of the striker.
Figures 15-19 show overhead, front, underside, right, and cross-sectional cut away
views of the striker.
Figure 20 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the latch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or
identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to figure 1 thereof,
there is shown a latch 10 for latching a first object 12 with a second object 14.
The latch 10 comprises a catch 16 attached to the first object 12. The latch 10 comprises
a hook portion 18 having a hook 20 which engages with the catch 16 attached to the
first object 12 that the latch 10 holds in place. The latch 10 comprises a base portion
22 that is fixed to a rigid surface of the second object 14. The ladder 48 comprises
a pinch flex portion 24 connected to the base portion 22 and the hook portion 18.
When the pinch flex portion 24 is compressed or pinch flexed downward to the base
portion 22, the hook portion 18 moves off of the first object 12, thus releasing the
first object 12 to move away from the second object 14. When the first object 12 is
to be held or latched to the second object 14, the first object 12 is moved against
a cam portion 26 of the hook portion 18, pushing the hook portion 18 back away from
the first object 12 until the first object 12 clears the hook 20 of the hook portion
18, whereupon the hook portion 18 no longer being restrained by the first object 12,
under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion 24 by the pinch flex portion
24 being compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches the first object
12 to the second object 14 without any spring or other component to create the force
bias. The hook portion 18 and base portion 22 and pinch flex portion 24 all together
being one continuous piece. The material for the latch may be a bendable plastic,
such as Delrin 127 UV NC010, which is an acetyl resin.
[0013] The pinch flex portion 24 may have a loop 28 and a free end 30 that together form
a U shape with the base portion 22. The free end 30 extending from the loop 28 which
is able to move up and down and essentially in parallel with the base portion 22.
When a compressive force is applied to the free end 30, the free end 30 moves down
towards the base portion 22 pivoting at the loop 28. The hook portion 18 may extend
outward away from the base portion 22 essentially perpendicularly from the free end
30.
[0014] The hook portion 18 may include a first element 32 attached to and extending essentially
perpendicularly from the free end 30 outward away from the free end 30, a second element
34 attached at a connection point 38 to the first element 32 extending essentially
perpendicularly from the first element 32 and in parallel with the free end 30, and
a third element 36 attached to the second element 34 extending outward at an acute
angle away from the second element 34 and back toward the connection point 38 between
the first element 32 in the second element 34 to define a slope 40. The third element
36 may be the cam portion 26 against which the catch 16 pushes back as the first object
12 is moved toward the second object 14 until the catch 16 moves down the slope 40
and clears the second element 34, whereupon the second element 34 moves back over
the catch 16, the second element 34 and first element 32 forming the hook 20.
[0015] The first object may be a step 43 attached to a front rail 42 of a ladder 48, as
shown in figures 4 and 5, and the second object may be a cross bar 75 attached to
the rear rail 46 of the ladder 48. Figure 4 shows the ladder 48 in the folded position
with the latch 10 engaged with the catch 16, which in this embodiment is a step 43
attached to the inside of the front rail 42. When the ladder 48 is in the folded position,
the latch 10 on the cross bar 75 attached to the rear rail is aligned with the step
43 attached to the front rail 42 to latch with the step 43. Figure 5 shows a ladder
48 in the open position for use.
[0016] In regard to figure 4, the stepladder 48 is in the folded position, where the front
section 102 and the rear section 101 are latched together with the latch 10 engaged
with the step 43, and the stepladder 48 is leaning against a wall 121 with the foot
117 of each rail flat or flush with the floor 119 so the ladder 48 does not slide
away from the object. In this leaning position with the ladder 48 in the folded position,
a user can climb the ladder 48. In the folded position, the rear section 101 latched
to the front section 102, is not in contact with the floor 119, so the stepladder
48 essentially acts as an extension ladder that is leaned against a wall 121. The
ladder 48 in the folded position can also lean against other structures, besides it
wall 21, such as planks or corners or poles. See U.S. patent application __________,
having attorney docket number WERNER-160 CIP, filed contemporaneously with this patent
application, incorporated by reference herein. With the rear section 101 latched to
the front section 102, the rear section is securely held in place and does not move
about or hang loosely, which could put the ladder 48 in an unstable position while
it is leaning against the wall 121 and put the user in a dangerous situation when
the user is standing on steps of the ladder 48.
[0017] The present invention pertains to a method for latching a first object 12 with a
second object 14. The method comprises the steps of compressing a pinch flex portion
24 of a latch 10 downward toward a base portion 22 of the latch 10 that is fixed to
a rigid surface of the second object 14 causing a hook portion 18 of the latch 10
to move off of a catch 16 attached to the first object 12, thus releasing the first
object 12 to move away from the second object 14. The pinch flex portion 24 connected
to the base portion 22 and the hook portion 18. There is the step of moving the first
object 12 away from the second object 14. There is the step of moving the first object
12 against a cam portion 26 of the hook portion 18, which pushes the hook portion
18 back away from the first object 12 until the first object 12 clears the hook 20
of the hook portion 18, whereupon the hook portion 18 no longer being restrained by
the first object 12, under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion 24 by the
pinch flex portion 24 being compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches
the first object 12 to the second object 14 without any spring or other component
to create the force bias. The hook portion 18 and base portion 22 and pinch flex portion
24 all together being one continuous piece.
[0018] The present invention pertains to a ladder 48, as shown in figures 4 and 5. The ladder
48 comprises a front rail 42. The ladder 48 comprises a rear rail 46. The ladder 48
comprises a step 43 attached to the front rail 42. The ladder 48 comprises a latch
10 attached to a cross bar 75 attached to the rear rail 46 and positioned on the cross
bar 75 so when the ladder 48 is in a folded position, the latch 10 latches with the
step 43. The latch 10 comprises a hook portion 18 having a hook 20 which engages with
the step 43 attached to the front rail 42 that the latch 10 holds in place. The latch
10 comprises a base portion 22 that is fixed to a rigid surface of the rear rail 46.
The latch 10 comprises a pinch flex portion 24 connected to the base portion 22 and
the hook portion 18. When the pinch flex portion 24 is compressed or pinch flexed
downward to the base portion 22, the hook portion 18 moves off of the step 43 of the
front rail 42, thus releasing the front rail 42 to move away from the rear rail 46.
When the front rail 42 is to be held or latched to the rear rail 46, the bottom of
the rear flange 77 of the step 43 attached to the front rail 42 is moved against a
cam portion 26 of the hook portion 18, pushing the hook portion 18 back away from
the rear flange 77 of the step 43 attached to the front rail 42 until the rear flange
77 of the step 43 clears the hook 20 of the hook portion 18, whereupon the hook portion
18 no longer being restrained by the step 43 attached to the front rail 42, under
a force bias created in the pinch flex portion 24 by the pinch flex portion 24 being
compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches the rear flange 77 of
the step 43 and thus the front rail 42 to the rear rail 46 without any spring or other
component to create the force bias. The hook portion 18 and base portion 22 and pinch
flex portion 24 all together being one continuous piece.
[0019] The base portion 22 may have a rivet received portion 50, as shown in figure 2, on
either end of the base portion 22. A rivet 52 extending through the base portion 22
at each receive portion and the rear rail 46 fixes the latch 10 to the rear rail 46,
as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5.
[0020] The present invention pertains to a method for latching a front rail 42 of a ladder
48 with a rear rail 46 of the ladder 48. The method comprises the steps of compressing
a pinch flex portion 24 of a latch 10 downward toward a base portion 22 of the latch
10 that is fixed to a rigid surface of a cross bar 75 attached to the rear rail 46
causing a hook portion 18 of the latch 10 to move off of a step 43 attached to the
front rail 42, thus releasing the front rail 42 to move away from the rear rail 46.
The pinch flex portion 24 is connected to the base portion 22 and the hook portion
18. There is the step of moving the front rail 42 away from the rear rail 46. There
is the step of moving the step 43 of the front rail 42 against a cam portion 26 of
the hook portion 18, which pushes the hook portion 18 back away from the step 43 attached
to the front rail 42 until the step 43 clears the hook 20 of the hook portion 18,
whereupon the hook portion 18 no longer being restrained by the step 43 attached to
the front rail 42, under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion 24 by the
pinch flex portion 24 being compressed by the step 43, automatically moves back and
catches or latches the step 43 and thus the front rail 42 to the rear rail 46 without
any spring or other component to create the force bias. The latch 10 is one piece.
[0021] Figures 6-9 show different views of the latch 10 as well as dimensions for a preferred
embodiment. The thickness of the base portion 22, loop 28, free end 30, first element
32, second element 34 and third element 36 can be between .1 inches and .4 inches,
and preferably .15 inches. The height of the latch 10 can be between 3 inches and
6 inches and is preferably about 3.4 inches. The width of the hook portion 18 can
be between .75 inches and 3 inches and is preferably about 1 inch. The length of the
base portion 22 can be between 3 inches and 7 inches and is preferably about 4.8 inches.
The width of the base portion 22 can be between .75 inches and 3 inches and is preferably
about 1 inch wide. The width of the free end 30 is about the same with as the base
portion and the length of the free end 30 is between 2 inches and 6 inches preferably
about 3 inches. The length of the free end should be such that the rivet receive portions
50 clear the free end 30. The dimensions of the latch 10 may be varied as the requirements
dictate with for instance the thickness changing and the other components changing
in the corresponding amount.
[0022] The present invention pertains to a ladder 48. The ladder 48 comprises a front section
102 having a front right rail and a front left rail. The ladder 48 comprises a rear
section 101 having a rear right rail and a rear left rail. The ladder 48 comprises
a step 43 attached to the front right rail and front left rail. The ladder 48 comprises
a cross bar 75 attached to the rear right rail and the rear left rail. The ladder
48 comprises a latch attached to the cross bar 75 and positioned on the cross bar
75 so when the ladder 48 is in a folded position where the front section 102 is alongside
and in parallel with the rear section 101, the latch latches with the step 43. The
latch comprises a hook portion 18 having a hook 20 which engages with the step 43
attached to the front right rail and front left rail that the latch holds in place.
The latch comprises a base portion 22 that is fixed to a rigid surface of the cross
bar 75. The latch comprises a pinch flex portion 24 connected to the base portion
22 and the hook portion 18. When the pinch flex portion 24 is compressed or pinch
flexed downward to the base portion 22, the hook portion 18 moves off of the step
43, thus releasing the front section 102 to move away from the rear section 101, When
the front section 102 is to be held or latched to the rear section 101, the step 43
attached to the front section 102 is moved against a cam portion 26 of the hook portion
18, pushing the hook portion 18 back away from the step 43 until the front section
102 clears the hook 20 of the hook portion 18, whereupon the hook portion 18 no longer
being restrained by the step 43. Under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion
24 by the pinch flex portion 24 being compressed, automatically moves back and catches
or latches the step 43 and thus the front section 102 to the rear section 101 without
any spring or other component to create the force bias. The latch is one piece.
[0023] The present invention pertains to a method for using a step ladder 48. The method
comprises the steps of moving a pinch flex latch attached to a cross bar 75 of a rear
section 101 of the stepladder so a cam surface of a cam portion 26 of the pinch flex
latch contacts a front edge of a striker 71 attached to a step 43 of a front section
102 of the stepladder, which moves the cam portion 26 aside so the cam portion 26
clears the front edge of the striker 71 and the hook 20 of the pinch flex latch latches
with the striker 71 so the front section 102 and rear section 101 are latched together.
There is the step of pressing on a pinch flex portion 24 of the pinch flex latch to
move the hook 20 so the hook 20 clears the striker 71. There is the step of moving
the front and rear sections 102, 101 apart after the hook 20 clears the striker 71.
[0024] Referring to figures 10-14, in another embodiment, the base 22 is attached to a crossbar
75 that is a flat plate of a rear section 101 of a ladder 48. Preferably, a striker
71 is attached to the rear flange 77 of the step 43. The step 43 essentially has a
C shaped cross-section having a roughly flat center portion 78 with the front flange
79 and rear flange 77 extending essentially perpendicularly down from the center portion
78 with the center portion 78 disposed between the front and rear flanges.
[0025] The striker 71 has a bottom 80 that is riveted to the rear flange 77. Extending from
the bottom 80 is a right solid wall 81 and a left solid wall 82 in spaced relation
from the right solid wall 81. There is a front wall 83 having a rectangular shaped
window 84 and a Z shaped ceiling 85. The ceiling 85 and the front wall 83 are attached
to the right and left walls. In this embodiment, the third element 36 of the latch
10 is solid with the slope 40 and a back surface 51 that extends from the first element
32, with the volume 39 between the back surface 51 and the slope 40 being solid. The
alternative design of the latch 10 with the cam portion solid is shown in figure 15.
Figures 15-19 show overhead, front, underside, right, left and perspective views of
the striker.
[0026] In operation, as the rear section 101 of the ladder 48 is brought together with the
front section 102, the slope 40 strikes a first slope portion 53 of the ceiling 85
of the striker 71. As the front and rear sections move closer together, the slope
40 and the first sloped surface 53 push against each other and move each other aside
as the slope 40 slides along the first sloped surface 53 until the slope 40 clears
the first sloped surface 53, whereupon the second element 34 of the hook 20 moves
up alongside a straight stem 55 of the ceiling 85 of the striker 71, and engages with
the stem 55. The stem 55 acts as a catch 16. The first sloped surface 53 extends at
an acute angle upwards from the bottom 63 of the stem 55. The angle of the first sloped
surface 53 and the slope 40 essentially correspond. Similarly, when the second element
34 is adjacent and in parallel with the stem 55, the slope 40 essentially lines with
and conforms with a second sloped surface 57, whose angle is basically the same as
the angle of the slope 40, so there is essentially no or little space between them
when the ladder 48 is in the closed position. The second sloped surface 57 extends
angularly downward from a top 61 of the stem 55 while the first sloped portion 53
extends angularly upwards from the bottom 63 of the stem 55.
[0027] By having the right and left solid walls preventing access to any space between them
and the slope 40 and second sloped portion 57 being in conformance, any chance of
a finger getting access to such space is eliminated; or an object accidentally catching
on the cam portion 26 and accidentally opening and releasing the latch, resulting
in the front section and rear section opening up, is eliminated. Figure 20 shows the
cam portion being solid of this embodiment. At least 30 lbs. of force is required
to pull apart the front and rear sections and overcome the latch, if the latch is
not pressed down under normal operation to allow separation of the front and rear
sections.
[0028] In yet another alternative, the rear flange 77 may have a hole through which the
hook portion of the latch fits in, with the top of the hole engaging with the hook
portion, similar to the step bottom edge, as described above. For that matter, any
edge of the hole could be used to latch the hook portion to, in which case the hook
portion would be rotated to align with the desired edge of the hole chosen.
[0029] Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments
for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely
for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described
by the following claims.
1. A ladder comprising:
a front section having a front right rail and a front left rail;
a rear section having a rear right rail and a rear left rail;
a step attached to the front right rail and front left rail;
a cross bar attached to the rear right rail and the rear left rail;
a latch attached to the cross bar and positioned on the cross bar so when the ladder
is in a folded position where the front section is alongside and in parallel with
the rear section, the latch latches with the step, the latch comprising:
a hook portion having a hook which engages with the step attached to the front right
rail and front left rail that the latch holds in place;
a base portion that is fixed to the cross bar; and
a pinch flex portion connected to the base portion and the hook portion, when the
pinch flex portion is compressed or pinch flexed downward to the base portion, the
hook portion moves off of the step thus releasing the front section to move away from
the rear section, when the front section is to be held or latched to the rear section,
the step attached to the front section is moved against a cam portion of the hook
portion, pushing the hook portion back away from the step until the front section
clears the hook of the hook portion, whereupon the hook portion no longer being restrained
by the step, under a force bias created in the pinch flex portion by the pinch flex
portion being compressed, automatically moves back and catches or latches the step
and thus the front section to the rear section without any spring or other component
to create the force bias, the latch being one piece.
2. The ladder of claim 1 wherein the step has a front flange and a rear flange and a
center portion attached to and between the front flange and rear flange, and includes
a striker attached to the rear flange, the latch engaging with and latching to the
striker when the front and rear sections are in the folded position.
3. The ladder of claim 2 wherein the striker has a window for receiving the hook portion,
the hook portion engaging with the striker when the front and rear sections are in
the closed position to hold the front and rear sections together.
4. The ladder of claim 2 or 3 wherein the striker has a Z shaped roof with a first slope
portion, a straight stem connected to the first slope portion, the first sloped portion
extending upwards from a bottom of the stem, and a second sloped portion connected
to the stem and extending down from a top of the stem.
5. The ladder of claim 4 wherein the first and second sloped portions each have an angle
that essentially conforms to an angle of a slope of a cam portion of the hook portion
of the latch.
6. The ladder of any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the striker is one piece.
7. A method for using a step ladder comprising the steps of:
moving a pinch flex latch attached to a cross bar of a rear section of the stepladder
so a cam surface of a cam portion of the pinch flex latch contacts a front edge of
a striker attached to a step of a front section of the stepladder, which moves the
cam portion aside so the cam portion clears the front edge of the striker and the
hook of the pinch flex latch latches with the striker so the front section and rear
section are latched together;
pressing on a pinch flex portion of the pinch flex latch to move the hook so the hook
clears the striker; and
moving the front and rear sections apart after the hook clears the striker.